Toogood, Dr. John Alfred - 2000 Hall of Fame Inductee

Dr. John Toogood never forgot the Dirty Thirties when he watched his father's farm soil blow into the ditches like snow. He combined his love of the land with a passion for teaching and became one of the most prominent and influential soil scientists in all of North America. Dr. Toogood spent 30 years at the University of Alberta Soil Sciences department working tirelessly to improve agricultural production through research into soil testing and fertility, erosion control, production systems and agrometeorology. His water erosion research was the first of its kind in Alberta and several of his extension bulletins and booklets were landmark publications. The simplified textural triangle, proposed by Dr. Toogood in 1958 and widely adopted across Canada, is now gaining international usage. Due to his foresight, the Breton Soil Fertility Plots, a critical tool used to gauge long term agricultural practices on land, were saved from abandonment and further developed. Dr. Toogood's practical and down-to-earth manner made him a popular teacher and speaker for farmers and fertilizer dealers, as well as industry representatives, policy-makers, media and scientists from around the world. His contributions were recognized with five professional honours and were an invaluable resource to the Alberta Institute of Agrologists, as well as countless others professional and community organizations.